UDOT PLANNED AVALANCHE CLOSURES!!

Observation: Gold Hill

Observation Date
3/29/2022
Observer Name
Ted Scroggin
Region
Uintas » Gold Hill
Location Name or Route
Gold Hill/ Whiskey Creek-Hwy 150
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Moderate Snowfall
Wind Direction
North
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
A return to winter with just a dusting of snow in Evanston, 3" at the trailhead and about 6" around 9,500'. Temperatures are still on the mild side, but a light wind from the north cooled things off slightly.
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
6"
New Snow Density
High
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Melt-Freeze Crust
Damp
Snow Characteristics Comments
Some wet high density snow fall today making things look a little more like winter, however the low to mid elevation snow conditions were damp and unsupportable today. I turned around on my attempt to get into Gold Hill as the snow was just too unsupportable and the visibility a bit challenging. Hopefully temperatures will continue to cool down and get the snowpack locked up.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Cracking
Rapid Warming
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Several days now of above freezing temperatures have really affected the snowpack with damp unstable snow at the low and mid-elevations making for tough travel and unstable snow.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Same
Problem #1 Comments
The persistent layer of weak sugar snow that developed over the winter dry spell has now become wet and unstable. I continued to get snow pit tests today that still propagate a fracture with only a few taps from the elbow. Until the snow pack gets a good freeze it seems like the possibility of triggering avalanches on this layer is still likely?
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
Wet Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
A return to more seasonal temperatures should slow down the wet snow problems. I was not able to view any high elevation terrain today, but would think there are some wet sluffs and slides from days of a poor freeze.
Comments
As soon as I left the groomed trail I was sinking into damp unsupportable snow with water at the ground level. This was at the 8,700' elevation.
I was finding similar snow conditions at 9,500' with slightly more new snow, but the snow was still unsupportable and damp to the ground. I sunk to my knees once I stepped off the machine.
Not quite sure what the hazard is right now, but feel like the conditions are still unstable and there is a lot of uncetainity with the current snowpack.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable
Coordinates